A potential government shutdown at midnight tonight would affect federal offices and agencies across the South Plains.

A potential government shutdown at midnight tonight would affect federal offices and agencies across the South Plains.

Hundreds of federal employees across the South Plains faced uncertainty in going to work or when they’ll see their next paychecks as congressional leaders struggled Thursday to find a compromise in setting the federal budget.

A federal government shutdown likely would halt operations at such federal offices as Lubbock’s USDA Service Center and the Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge, and could eventually affect operations in Lubbock's U.S. District Court.

But other services, such as U.S. Postal Service mail delivery, forecasts from the National Weather Service office and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport were not expected to be affected, spokespersons for the agencies said Thursday.

Like combat-related military personnel, weather service forecasters are considered essential personnel who likely wouldn’t be asked to go on furlough during the shutdown, said Justin Weaver, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service Office in Lubbock.

He said he didn’t expect any of the Lubbock office’s 24 employees would be furloughed as part of the shutdown.

“We’ll be here to issue the necessary watches and warnings,” Weaver said. “Our job is to protect the people of the community.”

Weaver recalled working as a forecaster for the weather service during federal government shutdowns in 1995 and 1996.

Neither prevented the office from maintaining its 24/7 forecasting operations, he said.

“We continued to work just like always, but we might have been a few days late receiving our paychecks,” Weaver said.

If the shutdown happens, he said, it’s possible his staff could again see a delay in receiving their paychecks.

Like in ’95 and ’96, many federal payroll operations centers around the country likely would be affected by the shutdown, according to The Associated Press.

The 50-plus workers in Lubbock’s USDA Service Center, including the Farm Service and Rural Development offices, were aware they likely would be furloughed in a government shutdown, according to the office.

Nationwide, more than 800,000 federal workers deemed non-essential could be asked to stay at home during a shutdown.

At the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, administrators received email notification of a potential furlough beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, though the refuge operates only from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Monday through Friday.

Six people, including biologists and support and maintenance staff, man the federal land, which would not be open to the public if the furloughs are initiated, according to the refuge.

Pay for U.S. troops would be delayed, and some civilian Defense Department employees would be furloughed unless Congress and the president quickly approve a budget or a proposed military-pay extension, according to The AP.

Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, co-sponsored the House bill that would ensure military personnel receive their paychecks on time regardless of a shutdown, according to a statement from the congressman’s office.

That bill was approved by the House but was still pending approval by the Senate and the president late Thursday.

In a letter to the House chief administrative officer dated Wednesday and released on the congressman’s website, Neugebauer requested he not receive his paycheck “until the government is operating again and our service men and women have received their paychecks.”

Federal operations at Lubbock’s airport, including air traffic control, likely won’t be affected by the potential shutdown, according to airport director James Loomis and a news release from the Dallas area FAA office.

“Agency operational plans are still being finalized, but our current understanding is that the FAA will retain all the employees necessary to keep the national airspace system operating safely,” the FAA statement said. “We still believe there is an opportunity to avoid a government shutdown but are working to ensure that we are prepared for all possible scenarios,”

The FAA would, however, suspend aircraft certification, the development, testing and evaluation of certain technologies and most budget and administrative activities, according to the statement.

Spokespersons for the U.S. District Court in Lubbock and Dallas were not available for comment Thursday.

But the federal judiciary announced this week it can use non-appropriated fees to keep courtrooms open for two weeks, according to The AP.

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I have written Neugebauer and informed him that ALL of Congress and the President himself should not just be delayed in pay, but that they should have their pay forfeited for this time period.

A budget should have been passed more than 6 months ago! The Republicans did not take control of the House until January. Nobama and Stinklosi and Harry-Scary Reid had control over the entire Congress. Why has a budget not been completed. This is UNACCEPTABLE!